The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-03-17
An Inquiry as to Fertilizers.

Mr.. ED1ToR.-You will do some of US
kindness, if you will publish in the
Spartan your candid opinion as to the
good that We can get out of commercial
fertilizers. Do you really believe that
they will pay us2 Some of US have
doubts about the matter. What do you
think? PLowMAN.
This seems to be fair question fairly
asked, and demand that the clearest
information be given. No kind of ma
nures will pay the farmer even for haul.
ing to the field unless thorough cultiva-
ton follows. Heavy manuring Of soils
that will hold manure and be improved
thereby will always pay, unless the coat
is too much. One cannot afford to pay
out two dollars to receive the benefit of
one. An intelligent use of any sort of
manure implies increased productions
and improved soil. The latter can only
come by deep plowing and thorough pull
verization. Ten dollars worth of manure
to the acre on hard clay lands, plowed
about three inches deep, would be a
doubtful investment. The quantity and
kind Of manure must always be adapted
to land and crops. Brains are about
as necessary as muscle and manure.
Now to tho main question. The COM
mercial manure, mostly purchased in
this county, is Acid Phosphate. Take
that as a standard. The dealers now ask
260 pounds Of good middling cotton for a
ton. This at 81 cents would amount to
$22,10. Now, Plowman desires to know
whether he can make enough cotton by
the use Of this fertilizer to pay for it and
pay for his labor in hauling and distrib.
uting it. If he does that and nothing
more, he only comes outeven, and if any
one makes any money out of the transac.
ton it is not the farmer. Should his
production be increased so as to double
the amount necessary to pay his expen.
ses, then he would be making something
clear. Plowman and some of his neigh
bors should test this matter for them.
selves. Use the commercial fertilizer on
one acre and nothing on the next and
weigh the cotton that comes from each
acre. Or use the compost both with and
without the phosphate, and ascertain
what is the difference in yield. Bear in
mind that the use of commercial
manures, or homemade manure either,
requires clean and timely cultivation.
Manured land, half.worked, or cleaned
out late in the year, will make poor
crop and will not pay. 1t is our candid
opinion that careful and judicious use
of these commercial manures will pay.
The profit will not be very great but it
will be sure. But if you haul out the
manure and scatter it at random on
poorly prepared land and postpone the
cultivation Of the crop until the grass
snd weeds take up the plant food, you
will fail to derive any profit. If you use
nothing but commercial manure you will
be apt to fall behind, one year with
another. He who makes and saves most
manure about his lot is best able to pur-
chase acid phosphate. The day will
soon come when farmers will begin 10
purchase commercial fertilizers for cash.
All will not do that, but some of chem
will. Then they will be able to test the
matter, for they will get their phosphate
at reduced price. The manufacturer
or agent will have to take no risks at all
and he will sell for a small profit. That
is the true system of using manure ofany
sort. If the crop is abundant you will
feel very happy, if it is short, it will all
be yours.-Spartan6urg Spartan.